Stage Four - Electronic

Video Games - Live!

2010-07-30T11:10:00.000-07:00

The junction between music and videogames continues to evolve. Sync licensing is great for established bands, but how about turning the tide of interactivty from the gaming platform to a LIVE VENUE. New orchestra's such as the Gamer Symphony Orchestra (GSM), and established collectives such as National Symphony Orchestera (NSO) are doing just that. See below for a clip of "Play! A Video Game Symphony" performing a self-arranged version of our most cherished video game icon, Zelda!

DJ Shadow

2010-07-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

genre: electronic
artist: DJ Shadow
album: The DJ Shadow Remix Project
featured tracks: Mongrel Meets His Maker (Sonotech Mix); Walkie Talkie (Irn Mnky "Beat Down" Mix)
street date: July 2010
label: self-released

This week's featured electronic artist is another one we (northern) Californian's can proudly lay bragging rights to.

What started as a simple remix contest morphed into a full-blown remix project that DJ Shadow loves "more than [he] ever dreamed [he] would." It's rare to find a fresh take on a classic that is well received by both the audience and the original artist, but whatever special sauce this collection of DJs is hiding up their sleeves has certainly wowed everyone.

Shadow says "new life has been breathed into songs I had long-since resigned to the past, and made them fresh again...you WILL hear these mixes in future shows, and that's the strongest endorsement I can give as a DJ."

One random fun fact before we get into the actual remixes: this album alone demonstrates the brilliance and breadth of DJ Shadow's influence. Why, you ask? Each track represents an artist in another country who has been inspired by Shadow. In the first three tracks, we go to France, the US, and the UK. By the end, we've also been to Italy, Canada, Venezuela... and then some. So you basically get a CD of awesome remixes, as well as an around the world ticket. Sweet.

Mongrel Meets His Maker: the riff in the original version of this track has slight undertones of Tool and A Perfect Circle. Sonotech has kept that element of the song but added a world of complexity by layering additional treble and bass elements to create a deep, rich sound.

The original version of Walkie Talkie definitely straddles the line between hip hop, electronic, and alternative rock (okay, so I guess it's more of a circle than a straight line... or something). Irn Mnky's cut nudges the track more towards the hip-hop/electronic line, but still manages to maintain that gritty alternative rock vibe.

In summary: Fresh for '88, suckas? How about fresh for 2010.

Show some LOVE. stream now.

Do me right (don't worry, it's not that dirty)

2010-07-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

genre: House
artist: Ed The Red
album: New York House Music, Vol 1
tracks: Do Me Right (ft. Secret Lovers), Move Yo Body (ft Hearsay)
label: Bottom Line Records

After 20 years on the house scene, the iconic master of House, colloquially referred to as Ed the Red, delivers another batch of instant classics.

Do Me Right blends Ed's jazz keyboardist background with his impeccable skills as a producer & DJ to produce the ultimate combination of classic house and retro-funk. It sounds like an odd combination (jazz and house? funk and classic?) but these elements fit together as well as salty and sweet.

Move Yo Body is more straightforwardly funky, with its slight hint of dub in the bassline. The fun, friendly lyrics in tandem with the mood-elevating beat instantly transports you to a beachside lounge on a tropical island. Enough said.

My new motto (borrowed from Hearsay): "see, ya gotta move. see, ya gotta groove. but if you can't do that, them mmm guess what? that's alright, kid."

beyond what you see lurks so much more

2010-07-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

genre: indie, new wave, electronic
artist: <>
album: Grand Strategy I
street date: July 13th 2010
featured tracks: Love & War, Tame
label: Cozy Music

tfo is Timothy F O'Keefe (and sometimes some guest artists!) of Providence, Rhode Island. According to the Providence Phoenix, Timothy is basically the godfather of Providence's electronic music scene. According to me, he's basically the godfather of winning at life. Seriously-- this guy has done everything from audio design for video games to journalism (oh, and lets not forget the part where he started his own label, teaches HS students and graduate students the tricks to successful music production, organizes IndieArts/ri, and is working on an MFA at RISD). Ummm... can I borrow some impressiveness for my resume?

Anyways, these tracks are awesome. Love & War sucks you in after the first half a second with a guitar riff that is reminiscent of John Petrucci's Glasgow Kiss. This riff fades in and out of focus throughout the track, allowing other melodic factors some time at center stage. My favorite part: circa 1:30, the vocals take a short break to allow for a brief jam sesh between the beat and a few of the featured guitar parts. SO good. (Sidenote: this happens a few times throughout the song, but the first one is still my favorite because it's both unexpected and fleeting, and leaves you wanting more.)

Tame is anything but. No joke--this song is nuts. The intro is ominously intriguing-- kind of like a mix between the music that plays right before something epic happens in a sci-fi movie, and what I imagine Dracula listens to at bedtime. During the proceeding 4 minutes and 30 seconds, Timothy builds a blissful concoction that I lack the words to describe. A chorus of "this is how I feel" is interspersed at the climax of each distinct chunk of song to cover a range of conflicting emotions. I know what I'm gonna be listening to next time I can't articulate how I feel. Thank you Timothy!!

streamstreamstream

call on me, you got my number

2010-06-29T13:42:00.000-07:00

genre: house/electronica/down-tempo
artist: Joshua Heath ft Colette
album: Call On Me
tracks: Call On Me (main mix); Call On Me (Giano Mix)
street date: June 29th 2010
label: Candy Talk Records

Colette and Joshua Heath combine their diverse range of talents to deliver a track that is sure to fill dance floors all summer long. Colette brings with her a long history of chart-topping experience and ten years of hard work that has finally brought her new label, Candy Talk Records, into existence. With Candy Talk, Colette promises to "dial up a dynamic sound that defies the conventionalities of of house music" and deliver tracks that "make [their] way everywhere from dark & dirty clubs, to big ol' shiny raves."

Well, she couldn't have picked a better track to act as the label's first big release.

The main mix of Call On Me starts with a sensual beat that gets subtly built upon throughout the length of the track. Colette's emotive voice anchors the song while funky layers are continually added and stripped away so artfully that you can't help but wonder, "what just changed here?"

Fast forward a few tracks to the Giano mix (but go back and listen to the ones in between later!!) for a more trancey, more sultry, more moody version of the song. The main beat serves as the consistency-factor in this mix, while Giano plays with Colette's gorgeous vocals like a kid plays with a new toy; he uses the full 7 minutes and 16 seconds of the song to experiment with all the fun vocal variations you can imagine.

in summary: the ADD kids don't need Adderall-- they just need some Colette, Joshua Heath, and Giano to grab and hold their attention. Hey, it worked for me.

SF Life: Pride Weekend

2010-06-28T23:34:00.001-07:00

Coming from a small town, I (as in Miss Sunny Dee) never knew much outside the walls of spoon fed pop culture, including the generalizations and stereotypes personified by those on the golden screen. What I mean by this is since my town really only had one cultural arena of life (white, middle class, straight, etc.), we relied heavily on pop culture stereotypes to judge those who we had not come to know. I never really agreed with this cultural acclamation, but the only way I knew to go against it was to be "the punk," yet again relying on what pop culture had defined as alternative, such a tangled web.

Anyways, point of this story is when I moved to San Francisco, I was graciously in awe of what various ways people expressed themselves, and how comfortable each and every individual felt in such a welcoming community of people. There was no need to become part of a definition or a stereotype, nor did you have to follow the trends that media conglomerations spoon feed much of the rest of America. It was a melting pot of personae, and it taught me that I could be who I am, and wear the outfits that Chad so wonderfully explains on our podcast.

Me (right), and one of my most eccentrically beautiful friends, Brynna

San Francisco's openness, I often believe, is due to their continuing support of the LBGTQ community. With their acceptance of this vast culture, they are able to look beyond walls of stereotypes, and as one of my friends so graciously put it, make it a matter worthy of ignoring due to its normalcy. I take pride living in a city that allows adults to love and live, and never feel one doubt about their self esteem and safety.

So why do I bring all this up on our Electronic blog? Well friends, one of the very first places I realized how well the gay community was accepted within the larger San Franciscan community was at night clubs where I used to go dance. I remember sitting at the bar and watching how freely everyone looked, and how they dance with whomever they liked, co-mingling with others around them no matter what their sexual preference. I think that's when I realized what a strong power music has over how we control ourselves, and how we break molds of stereotype. Music is constantly taking strides to break the norm and be provocative, and with this movement, instigates others to be more open to things they may not have been open to before. And I think this is especially pronounced in electronic and dance music, where you are provoked by music to move.

As I walked through the Castro on pride night, the streets were alive with Electronic music, and it made me realize that exact power once more. People were all together in celebration of love and music, and it only made sense that the bass coming through that speakers was the driving heartbeat to this amazing spectacle.

Castro, Saturday Night Pride

In conclusion, I love what music (especially dance music) has done to inspire unity and creativity and instigate a flame of knowledge and acceptance, and I am so happy to live in a city that accepts those who are gay, straight, green, blue, or Sunny, and let those of us who may have felt lost elsewhere be proud of who we are.

Party on electro heads, and remember the love that is being spread through this genre of music that counters pop culture, yet still accepts everyone.

And Happy pride to EVERYONE, because being proud of who you are goes much further than sexuality.

you love my shake

2010-06-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

genre: electro-house
artist: Fukkk Offf
album(s): Remix Is King; In Da Club-- Fukkk Offf Remixes
featured tracks: Love My Shake (ft LaClopeAuBec); In Da Club (ft Hazel, Entyce)
label: Coco Machete
street date: February 25th, 2010; June 22nd, 2010

Fukkk Offf hails from Hamburg, Germany-- a hometown he shares with Boys Noize, D.I.M., and Digitalism. A few interesting tidbits, before we get to the tracks. I promise, they're good.
1) Fukkk Offf was still working his day job as recently as December of 2009. So... he works all day, spins all night, and sleeps...when, exactly? Solid work ethic.
2) LaClopeAuBec's remix of Love My Shake is featured on Remix is King because they won a remix contest with Fukkk Offf about a year ago. They've since exploded in popularity. That's about a billion times cooler than winning American Idol.
3) Fukkk Offf says he knows he's played a good set when the audience salutes him with a barrage of middle fingers after the encore. I like his style.
4) In an interview with Fairtilizer, Fukkk Offf stated that his music is "more than just a plingplong of sounds" and that he wanted to create a space in which he could "express feelings about love and hate in a more aggressive way, without any rules." I would say this approach is successfully reflected in his work.

Love My Shake is expertly remixed in a way that's had me dancing in my chair for the last four minutes and twelve seconds. The track starts with a simple splice of the lyrics, then adds some solid drum & bass layers with treble accents that suck you in. LaClopeAuBec masterfully strips away and rebuilds variations of these layers throughout the entirety of the song to yield a fluid transition through the prologue, conflict, climax, and resolution. Sweet.

In Da Club pairs Hazel's sassy rap skills with Entyce's sultry vocals and Fukkk Offf's addicting beats to ensure that YOUR body moves to the bass and the beat. If you listen to this track on repeat (as I have been...), you'll be rapping along with Hazel in no time. You might even get your own feisty attitude and accidentally sass your boss. Oops.

STREAM STREAM STREAM! (and then dance, dance, dance)

my heart is not in control

2010-06-15T10:32:00.000-07:00

genre: electro-acoustic
artist: jdsy
album: blue newspaper
featured tracks: telluride, brite 8
street date: 15th june 2010
label: moodgadget

When i hear electro-acoustic, I automatically think owl city and fireflies. Yeah, this album is nothing like that. Jdsy has previously been noted for creating deep, "dark & twisty" (you love my Grey's anatomy references) songs and this album certainly does not disappoint. It's not as heavy as adage of known, but it's far from light-hearted and lends itself to introspection quite well.

Brite 8 is that song I want to listen to when I feel the all too familiar calm-before-the-storm that can only foreshadow the onset of disaster. You know what's coming, and you know you can't avoid it. So you just have to put on the right song, pour yourself some whiskey, and go into battle with a positive attitude.

And if brite 8 is your battle song, Telluride is the hug you need when all is said and done. It's the apology, the request for forgiveness. It's softer, sweeter, more hopeful. The beat is reminiscent of a sublime song at the end of summer, and the chimes are the twinkling stars that provide some resolve.

[end excessive philosophizing]

Head on over to the myspace for the soundtrack to your soul-searching.

aim

2010-06-08T10:21:00.000-07:00

genre: deep house, downtempo
artist: aim
album: flight 602
featured tracks: northwest (ft niko), birchwood
street date: 8th june 2010
label: ATIC records

What do you call a meal with a main course of ingenuity, a side of jazz, and a cocktail of funky? You call it flight 602, and you'd be hard pressed to find it as cleanly packaged as in an album from AIM. The record is upbeat but subtle-- kind of like an accidental night in with your best friends (...or that new guy/girl you just can't stop thinking about). AIM has accomplished the feat of providing us with an album that doesn't sound like anything you've encountered before. Our Stage 4 featured tracks are definitely of the electronic variety, but AIM holds a couple wild cards in the hole. An acoustic track - IT'S LATER THAN YOU THINK - that totally rocks, hip-hop gurgling beats, some brass, and a funky riff or two.

Stream now! It'll put a big ol' smile on your face.

dubLoner & Isaac Haile Selassie

2010-06-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

genre: dub, dub house
artist: dubLoner & Isaac haile Selassie
album: The Fight, The Spirit
track(s): The Fight, The Spirit (djunya remix; dubstep harder version)
street date: May 25th 2010
label: de'fchild

According to Isaac Haile Selassie, we can thank Bob Marley for his entrance into the world of music. Selassie had reportedly fled the political turmoil of Ethiopia when he bumped into fellow travelers listening to Bob Marley-- it was at that moment he knew he had to follow Bob's lead and make music to promote unity and equality among people all over the world. Frankly, I don't see how anyone listening to any version of this track could feel anything other than at one with the universe and it's inhabitants. Selassie and dubLoner (also known as Kenneth James Gibson, a man of many aliases) have combined talents to provide us with a song that leaves its listener torn between two compelling alternatives-- I can't decide whether I want to get up and dance, or find some lemonade and a hammock.

Each remix of this track seems to target a different desire, but at its core, it remains the chillest of chill no matter what the reincarnation. Even better: I've listened to every single version, and I can't pick a favorite. Yeah, it's that good.

So thanks Bob, Isaac, and Kenneth. I found my summer jam. Yeeeeah.

Ari Rhodes ft. Jinting

2010-05-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

genre: Electronic, Deep House
artist: Ari Rhodes
album: No Invitation-- The D-Tronic Remixes
featured tracks: No Invitation (Ft Jinting D-Tronic Remix) Radio Edit; No Invitation (ft Jinting) Radio Edit
street date: April 27th, 2010
label: Deep Tip Records

Ari Rhodes and Jinting have teamed up to deliver a flirtatious blend of deep vocals and sweet beats, guaranteed to keep you on the dance floor all night (or at least until the end of the song). The D-Tronic remixes further the sexy club vibe of these tracks-- it's enough to make any girl reach for her heels and miniskirt (even at 1130 am. while writing blogs.). If you're like me and you're itching for more after the track has run it's course, get the album and play the full versions of the featured tracks for an extra THREE MINUTES of epicness.

Stream now at the Myspace!

Johnny Dynell

2010-05-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

When You think of Voguing, you may think of this:

But Here at Stage 4, When we think of Voguing, we think of this:

That's from hitmaker Johnny Dynell, who has been making cult classics since the early 1980s.
Ever heard a DJ or Musician say "Jam Hot?"

Yeah, that was Johnny. Remember the revolution of break-dancing and voguing?

Well I'm too young to remember that, but from what I heard it was Johnny.

Needless to say, Johnny is a legend, and the new remixes of some of his old hits by the DJs over at Smash Hit Music are PHENOMENAL. Tensnake and 40 Thieves brings it down with their mixes of Jam Hot, and The Big Throwdown gets a Nu Disco revamp by Clouded Vision and Ilija Rudman.

So get your glam face on, and get down to some Nu Disco mixes of an eighties icon!

Bonobo

2010-05-05T10:32:00.002-07:00

Aah... look at that fine specimen. A perfect blend of sexual tension and natural energy, fermented in a sole being, the Bonobo monkey uses heavy petting, rubbing, and even sex in all elements of life, from greeting its friends to saying grace.

Taking his name from the sexual monkey shown above, Bonobo's new album is the perfect mixture of electronic beats to keep your hips rocking, and natural elements to keep your feet in the soil. His music takes a perfect mix of latin and hip hop beats meshed with foreign strings and horns to create what could be the perfect James Bond soundtrack. Imagine yourself driving a speed boat to South America while listening to this track, Flutter:

Now, I think we know why he calls himself Bonobo.

Bonobo

2010-04-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

ELECTRONIC, DOWNBEAT, BREAKBEAT, AMBIENT
ARTIST: Bonobo
ALBUM: Black Sand
TRACKS: "Kiara,” "1009"
STREET DATE: 4/6/10
LABEL: Ninja Tune

I have to admit, I love the Ninja Tune label. It's one of those labels that no matter what music they put out I am always interested in hearing it....hell, I'm EXCITED to hear it. Especially with such great artists like Amon Tobin, Daedelus, Kid Koala, and Mr Scruff just to name a few. So as soon as I heard that there was going to be a new Bonobo album and a HUGE tour I was pumped.

Bonobo is the moniker used by British artist Simon Green. He is a multi-instrumentalist, DJ, and producer who recorded with Tru Thoughts, a label run by Robert Luis and Paul Jonas. He jumped aboard with Ninja Tune in 2001 and he is still grooving with the label with his latest "Black Sand." A massive, earthy, and sensational new album to sink your body into.

Bonobo creates down-beat grooves with flourishes of atmospheric textures. Enjoyable at a late night into early morning party or an all night grooveathon in the clubs. His style is extremely organic and at times it feels like he is gently painting a picture of beauty. Gorgeous strokes of musical color, almost like watching a rainbow slowly come to life right in front of your eyes. He is one of Ninja Tune's biggest artists and in April and May of this year he will be heading out on tour with his live band. How invigorating is that? Get on out there and check this cat out LIVE!

Bonobo - The Keeper featuring Andreya Triana from Ninja Tune.

Bonobo - Eyesdown feat. Andreya Triana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztjmnJs_2ek&feature=player_embedded

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/sibonobo
Website with TOUR DATES: http://bonobomusic.com/

Can We Talk About This?

2010-03-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

WARNING: Totally NOT music related.

As I was looking for interesting stories to talk about on air, I came across this scary creature, and I don't think words over the podcast can describe the monster called Blobfish:

From Wikipedia:

The blobfish (Psychrolutes marcidus) is a deep sea fish of the family Psychrolutidae. Inhabiting the deep waters off the coasts of mainland Australia and Tasmania,^[1] it is rarely seen by humans.

Blobfish live at depths where the pressure is several dozens of times higher than at sea level, which would likely make gas bladders inefficient for maintaining buoyancy. Instead, the flesh of the blobfish is primarily a gelatinous mass with a density slightly less than water; this allows the fish to float above the sea floor without expending energy on swimming. Its relative lack of muscle is not a disadvantage as it primarily swallows edible matter that floats by in front of it.

Blobfish can be caught by bottom trawling with nets. Such trawling in the waters off Australia may threaten the blobfish in what may be its only habitat.

Now this may be old news to some, but to me, this is a new and horrible true threat to society. Ever watched the movie blob? I don't care if they are underwater: they are strategically forming a plot against us living creatures above water... this I am sure. Zombies I can certainly handle, but I really don't know if I could hold my own against the blobfish. No joke.

Now the weird thing is that people are actually scared these creatures may go extinct. According to an article in the Telegraph, the inedible fish is caught off of the coast of Sydney accidentally buy crab and lobster nets. Don't get me wrong, I am all about saving species, but not when it is an alien race generating itself undersea! The more dead, the closer we are to the safety of our planet.

What do you guys think of the blobfish?

Tad Wiley

2010-03-24T11:42:00.001-07:00

ELECTRONIC, ELECTRO, DISCO, FUNK, CLUB
ARTIST: Tad Wily
ALBUM: Brockley Boogie EP
TRACKS: "AYO.,” "Low Budget"
STREET DATE: 3/30/10
LABEL: Smash Hit Music Co.

Whoa! Look out baby.....talk about grooooovy! My boy Tad Wily (aka Matt Kuderski) is all funked up and discoed out on this robotic-boogiefied release on the San Francisco label Smash Hit Music Co. There is plenty of 1970s/early 1980s beats and rhythms throughout this new EP smothered in today's electro groove by this UK multi-instrumentalist. Talk about getting down...this is so freaking sweet!

Images of pimps & hookers, blaxploitation films, Studio 54, and Soul Train all come to mind when listening to this title. I'm raging on it right now while I write this and man, I just want to PARTY! Without a doubt this will be a mad crowd pleaser when blasted at a house party or club........................oh sorry, I'm back. I just needed to get off this computer and groove around the room.......oh yeeeah, that's right, hold on you all, I need to turn this trippy muther up............funky, funky, funky!

Tad Wily might not yet be a household name but just you wait, he's gonna slowly conquer the dance floor.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/tadwily

Jonas Reinhardt

2010-03-17T11:10:00.000-07:00

ELECTRONIC, MINIMALISM, AMBIENT, ART-ROCK, SYNTHESIZED-GROOVE
ARTIST: Jonas Reinhardt
ALBUM: Powers of Audition
TRACKS: "Atomic Bomb Living", "Near a Mirrored Pit Viper”
STREET DATE: 3/16/10
LABEL: Kranky

The name Jonas Reinhardt was created by lead songwriter and synthesizer alchemist, Jesse Reiner, while he was in college. It was the mid 1990s when Reiner and a friend thought about creating an album made up of two imaginary Düsseldorf academics: "Wilhelm Freuder" and "Jonas Reinhardt." Thus the name Jonas Reinhardt was born soon to be followed by the San Francisco, CA based band: JONAS REINHARDT.

Reiner and his other band mates in Jonas Reinhardt also perform in other groups. Phil Manley (guitar/vocals, performs with the massive Trans Am), Diego González (bassist, is also in the psychedelic space-rock band 3 Leafs), Damon Palermo (on drums, also performs in the sizzling trio Mi Ami) and Reiner is also in Crime in Choir. On "Powers of Audition" these four highly talented musicians (with some help by guitarist Michael Karoli) join forces to create a bubbling, peculating, hypnotic, groove infested album of the highest caliber. Mind-blowing and melting soundscapes collide with tripped out psychedelic mayhem all lathered and wrapped up in a wicked groove. Spacey and atmospheric textures swirl around other tracks that are injected with a rhythmic pulse and a robotic beat.

Their first self-titled album was also on Kranky and if you dug that beauty then you are sure to freak out over the "Powers of Audition". This is one beautiful and colorful album that works as a kaleidoscopic musical journey with headphones or an outer body experience on the dance floor.

LIVE these cats kick some major comsic hindside. I caught them one time opening for Onidea, a group of musical mad men from NY, and Jonas Reinhardt tore the place apart! They have a serious following and they were groovin', hard. It was a sick, sweaty, and cerebral dance party and Jonas Reinhardt had complete control over their fans and any new comers. The memories...

Check out their video: "ATOMIC BOMB LIVING."

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/jonasreinhardt

Tour Dates (always confirm TOUR DATES)

Mar 26 2010 9:00P JONAS REINHARDT (DJ SET), Neon Indian, Nite Jewel, Nice Nice (Warp) @ Mezzanine San Francisco, California
Apr 15 2010 8:00P Rock & Roll Hotel w/ Trans Am Washington DC, Washington DC
Apr 16 2010 8:00P Johnny Brendas w/ Trans Am Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Apr 17 2010 8:00P Santos Partyhouse w/ Trans Am NEW YORK, New York
Apr 18 2010 8:00P Market Hotel w/ Trans Am NYC/Bushwick, New York
Apr 19 2010 8:00P Middle East Downstairs w/ Trans Am BOSTON, Massachusetts
Apr 20 2010 8:00P La Sala Rossa Montreal w/ Trans Am Montreal, Quebec
Apr 21 2010 8:00P Horseshoe Tavern Toronto w/ Trans Am Toronto, Ontario
Apr 22 2010 8:00P Crofoot Ballroom w/ Trans Am Pontiac, Michigan

Stylo vs. Eddy GRANT!?

2010-03-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

As a follow up into our recent endeavors of Stylo by Gorillaz, it seems that they're in a bit of legal trouble due to the song. Eddy Grant of "Electric Avenue" fame is claiming that their song sounds a bit to much like his song "Time Warp."

Says Eddy:
"I am outraged that the Gorillaz have infringed the copyright of my song Time Warp, claiming their song Stylo to be an original composition."

Not to mention that both artists are signed to EMI, therefore making the legal troubles only significant to the two bands. Just step in and figureidout, EMI!!!!

What do you guys think? Too Similar?

Sunny's take: I definitely hear the similarities, but I don't think there's a case. Just because the bass beat is focussed on the same note and both have synth parts does not make them the same song. Copywright cases are very hard to win, so Eddy is wasting his time! DONE!

Daedelus

2010-03-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

ELECTRONIC, POP, INDIE, BEATS
ARTIST: Daedelus
ALBUM: Love To Make Music To
TRACKS: Make it So ft. Michael Johnson / Fair Weather Friends
STREET DATE: July 15, 2008
LABEL: Ninja Tune

The always amazing beat junkie, the juxtaposing freak of musical creation, ladies and gentlemen...ALFRED DAAAARLINGTON!!! No wait its, Alfred Weissberg-Roberts....hold on a minute, its both of those, but we all know him as...DAEDELUS! The name has a combination of influences ranging from James Joyce’s “A Portrait of the Artist…” to the father of Icarus to a reference to Robotech/Macross Plus. However the name came about, its all about the music from this maestro who has collaborated which such mad, mad artists like Busdriver, MF Doom, TTC, Mike Ladd, Absract Rude, Madlib, Holopaw, the One AM Radio, Michael Johnson, and High Priest. On top of working with all those wonderful cats he has also put out 11 major albums over the past 9 years on such labels as Plug Research, Mush Records, Laboratory Instinct, Brainfeeder, and Big Dada/Ninja Tune.

This release, LOVE TO MAKE MUSIC TO, was released on July 15, 2008 on the always exceptional Ninja Tune. Video for the single "Fair Weather Friends" here.

He also formed a husband & wife group called The Long Lost towards the end of '08. Daedelus' newest release to hit the shelves - digital and what's left of the physical record stores - is an EP titled "Righteous Fists Of Harmony" (3/22/10) on Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder. It is much more similar in style to his work on The Long Lost and we're always thrilled with his eclectic compositions.

The man is completely relentless and nothing can stop him from creating more music - stay tuned!

TOUR - Catch him at Austin TX's SxSW, more:

Mar 19 2010 8:00P Ninja Tune sXXsw at 501 Studios Austin, Texas
Mar 20 2010 11:45P AM Only presents at Beauty Bar (Backyard) Austin, Texas
Mar 23 2010 12:00P Worldwide Release of "Righteous Fists of Harmony" Los Angeles
Apr 1 2010 8:00P Adventures In The Beetroot Field at Fabric London
Apr 2 2010 8:00P Rainbow w/ Luke Vibert Birmingham
Apr 4 2010 8:00P Electron Festival Geneva
Apr 9 2010 8:00P Bateau Ivre Tours
Apr 10 2010 8:00P Motel Mozaique Festival @ Laatam Rotterdam
Apr 11 2010 8:00P Auditorium Rome
Apr 17 2010 8:00P Remixing the Ring Cycle at the Edye Theater Santa Monica, California Apr 24 2010 8:00P The Loft at UC San Diego San Diego, California

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/daedelusdarling
Website: http://daedelusmusic.com/

Gorillaz New Video

2010-03-10T09:51:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is the new Gorillaz video... I rated my own pros and cons, and I still think that the music video is the way to go. Free car chase vs. Paid car chase? I'll take free any day.

But what do you think!? Cop Out or Gorillaz?

Unfortunately this video doesn't allow embedding, so just click on the image above to get the video :).

Harrison Schaaf

2010-03-09T07:35:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONICA, TECHNO, BREAKBEAT, HOUSE
ARTIST: Harrison Schaaf
ALBUM: Zombie Outbreak Remixed/Zombie Schtyle EP
TRACKS: "Zombie Outbreak Remixed (Original Mix)," "This is Metal"
STREET DATE: 3/9/10
LABEL: Innerflight Recordings

Local Los Angeles groovemeister, Harrison Schaff, gets all tripped out on us with his cosmic dance beats and faaaaar out mind melting rhythms. Inspired by MSTRKRFT, Daft Punk, and many others Harrison Schaaf throws in his own intergalactic beats and tasty house grooving rhythms.

The party keeps moving with "Remixed" which includes razor sharp club mayhem by Kid Blue, Angel Alanis, and Falcon & The Snowman. This Zombie Outbreak is not for the faint of heart. Filled with dance floor stompers as well as intergalactic beats that could raise the dead!

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/harrisonschaafproduction
Myspace, Inner Flight Records: http://www.myspace.com/innerflight

Grasscut

2010-03-02T17:12:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONICA, EXPERIMENTAL, FOLKTRONICA, CLASSICAL
Artist: Grasscut
Label: Ninja Tune
Release Title: Muppet
Street Date: 3/2/10
Track(s): “Muppet (Radio Release),” “Meadowhall at Last”

Ninja Tune recording artists, Grasscut, are Andrew Phillips, an award-winning film and television composer with over 100 screen credits, and Marcus O’Dair who plays bass (classically trained), keyboards, and stylophone. Marcus is also a freelance journalist and radio DJ and both of them were in the band Passenger, a group whose electronica-tinged balladry riffed on the pop pathos of bands like Coldplay and Snow Patrol.

Grasscut made their live debut at the Loop Festival in August 2008 in the UK. "Muppet" is their debut album on the exceptional Ninja Tune label. They are at home now with such extraordinary artists like: Amon Tobin, Kid Koala, Bonobo, Daedelus, Thunderheist, and many, many more!

"Muppet" incorporates gorgeous layers of music and atmospheric textures. Soft, soothing vocals, tingling piano, and electronic injections spiral and swirl majestically painting a musical picture. Its a wonderful kaleidoscopic beauty.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/grasscutmusic
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/grasscutmusic?v=info

Fukkk Off / SCNDL

2010-02-23T15:03:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONICA, CLUB, DANCE, HOUSE
ARTIST: Fukkk Off / SCNDL
ALBUM: Remix is King/ Need To Know
TRACKS: "More Than Friends (Markus Lange and Stereofunk Remix), "Need To Know (Fukkk Off Edit)"
STREET DATE: 2/23/10
LABEL: Coco Machete

WOOOOOOHOOOOO!!!! Man, this is just SOOOO FUKKKING HOT! "Remix is King" just pumps out mean, nasty, MASSIVE dance-disco-INSANITY! Fukkk Off rips the dance floor a new ass with furious remixes of other artists like The Dance Inc., Monosurround, Midfield General, and Zombie Nation. Bass heavy monster beats and psychedelic-cosmic grooves assault the senses with unreleased mixes from Gooseflesh, Dirty Disco Youth, La Clope AuBec & Frederic De Carvalho. Plus a new Fukkk Off slammer titled "Utopia" AND sweaty remixes of Fukkk Off originals by Zodiac Cartel and Markus Lange. Damn right....Remix....IS KING! Let's jump the QUEEN!

And it just don't stop-
New York's finest, SCNDL, is back in action! "Need To Know" incorporates plenty of seductive and hip gyrating beats with hypnotic and peculating textures with mixes by the UK's Lee Mortimer. It also includes freaky dance masters, Markus Lange and SteroFunk, who lend a dirty electro groove while Fukkk Off keeps this kaleidoscopic party on fire So fukkking SWEET!

OK, enough of the shadowed profanity kiddies...

Fukkk Off Tour Dates (Always confirm TOUR DATES)

Mar 19 2010 10:00A Palais des Congrès LIEGE
Mar 20 2010 10:00A Warehouse st.Pölten
Mar 26 2010 10:00A TALLINN TALLINN
Mar 27 2010 10:00A HANNOVER HANNOVER
Apr 2 2010 10:00A Fleda Club http://fleda.cz/
Apr 4 2010 10:00A PALAZZO WILHELMSHAVEN
Apr 10 2010 10:00A Les Trinitaires Metz
Many more tour dates to come!

Myspace Fukkk Off: http://www.myspace.com/fukkkofff
Myspace SCNDL: http://www.myspace.com/scndl

Chinese New Year

2010-02-18T16:13:00.001-08:00

Hey guys,

As I promised in the podcast, here's a taste of Chinese New Year, SF styled. The event went down on Feb 5th (Yea, a bit early, but who's counting) and played nicely into our already brimming cultural affection for all things new and exciting. Dragons in the pics below are manned by 2 pros each, in the hind legs and head respectively.

Best part is when the front dancer jumped onto the shoulders of his cohort and lifted the head high above the crowd as if it was roaring 20 feet in the air!

Enjoy :)

Chad

PS Below, I included a video of a similar dance in Birmingham so you get the full effect.

Arcadian Birmingham - Chinese New Year Show - Dragon Dance HD from Phuc Te on Vimeo.

PJ Pooterhoots

2010-02-16T12:11:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONICA, HOUSE, TECHNO
Artist: PJ Pooterhoots
Release Title: Miami Swipe
Street Date: 2/16/10
Track(s): “Miami Swipe,” “Chase”
Label: Tigerbass

PJ Pooterhoots, part human/part squirrel and a senior designer at Lucas Films, is the solo project of San Francisco based Craig Drake, who also performs under the name Lleggs. Before moving to San Francisco, CA he lived in Detroit, MI where he devoured the maniacal dance scene going on there.

He has been producing music ever since he got his grubby little paws on the Casio SK-1 in the mid 80's. Now a days, the fast edit electro tracks on Barf, Lieb Meine EP and No Go have been licensed to DJ mix CDs all over the world.

Miami Swipe has been released on Tigerbass Records. Tigerbass is the sister label of the sizzling and freaky Tigerbeat6 label which includes some killer spellbinding artists: Kid606, Com.a, Dwayne Sodahberk, Knifehandchop, Dat Politics, Eats Tapes, Luke's Anger, Dolby Anol, and DJ Rupture.

On Miami Swipe there is plenty of insane, laser induced, rapid fire, musical madness, swirled around massive bass heavy beats. We are talking about pure futuristic sonic induced MAYHEM! This is one cosmic party that is happening right now in outer space on some distant planet and is sure to blow your mind!

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/pjpooterhootsmusic

Outputmessage

2010-02-10T17:59:00.001-08:00

ELECTRONIC/POP/NU-DISCO
Artist: Outputmessage
Album: Autonomous
Tracks: “I Remember (ft. City Rain)” & “N.Y.R.”
Street Date: February 9, 2010
Label: Output Noise Records

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Oh haaay, can I be your integral? You know, the area under your curves?

Sorry for that terrible joke, but it segues nicely into Outputmessage’s introduction. Outputmessage, a.k.a. Bernard Farley, began making music at an early age, and released a few singles while in college, where he majored in mathematics. So even if you didn’t get the joke, I bet he did.

After having “Bernard’s Song” and “Sommeil” featured on Ghostly International’s Idol Tryouts: Ghostly International Volume 1 (2003) and Volume 2 (2006), Outputmessage has been rubbing shoulders with various funky fresh DJs and artists in the DC music scene.

Over the years, Farley became involved in many new projects including two DJ nights (in DC) called Marquis and Flat Out!, in addition to collaborations with an electronic-pop group, New Models, and a disco-house outfit, Dmerit, consisting of long-time friend Micah Vellian and himself.

After releasing two EPs (Oneiros and Resurface) and Nebulae, Farley began Output Noise Records, whose artists include City Rain, Dmerit, Outputmessage, as well as a number of remixers including Triobelisk, Jahromil, and Autorock.

Outputmessage incorporates his own vocals for the first time in Autonomous and layers melodies, beats, rhythms, and endearing lyrics to craft this amazing album.

Check him DIRECT: http://outputnoiserecords.com/outputmessage/

Monk Fly

2010-02-04T10:14:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONICA, HIP HOP, JUNGLE, DOWN TEMPO
Artist: Monk Fly
Release Title: The Farside of Zen
Featured Tracks: “Birthday Funk”, “Hurry Chops”
Street Date: February 2, 2010
Label: Daly City Records

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Monk Fly, aka Chris Hancock, is a DJ, producer, and radio show host, based in Sydney Australia, with a love for abstract, dubalicous, fat future bass heavy beats.

He was a founding member of Elefant Traks, an Australian label now known for its beats, and The Frequency Lab, an artist run initiative. The Lab ran for 5 years as a venue and has since evolved into one of Australia’s most innovative boutique left-field music labels.

With his cohort, Johnny Faith, he hosts the only regular club night HEADROOM dedicated to left-field wonky. He also hosts “For The Heads” a weekly radio show on 2SER 107.3fm underground radio every Friday from 10.30 - 12pm with Johnny Faith. The show covers a wide and wonderful spectrum of bass driven, phat and funky electronica drawing influences from hip hop, dub, IDM, broken beat, dubstep and beyond! The show can also be streamed live online at http://www.2ser.com/ and you can read all about it on their blog: For The Heads.

“The Farside of Zen” EP, his first release for on Daly City Records is now available in all its glorious dubtastic insanity! It oozes and pumps out thick fatty psychedelic grooves and deep down-tempo beats incorporated with bass heavy MAAAAADNESS! Sweet. Your life is not complete without it.

Monk Fly on Myspace - http://www.myspace.com/monkfly

ALSO: check out Headroom Vol. 1 compiled by Johnny Faith & Monk Fly. It is named after their club night and features new future beat artists from home, abroad and in general reflect the fat new styles that Headroom has been representing.

Blockhead

2010-01-29T11:48:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONIC/HIP-HOP
Artist: Blockhead
Album: The Music Scene
Tracks: “The Music Scene” & “Tricky Turtle”
Street Date: January 26, 2010
Label: The Music Scene

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Blockhead, a.k.a. Tony Simon, is a witty and innovative Manhattan-based hip-hop producer and DJ. He has previously released Music by Cavelight, Downtown Science, Uncle Tony’s Coloring Book, and released The Music Scene earlier this week.

In addition to his solo albums released on Ninja Tune, Blockhead also produces music for fellow hip-hop artist, Aesop Rock – who he has produced eight albums for in the past. He also worked with artists such as Cage, Murs, Mac Lethal, Mike Ladd, S. A. Smash, and Slug (Atmosphere).

Blockhead is known for his layered electronics and DJ Shadow-like soundscapes and rolling “headnodica.”

The Music Scene is considered to be Blockhead’s most complete album, which is apparent after listening to the first track. The album is full of upbeat sound, weird and unusual samples that make Blockhead so unique and awesome. The Music Scene is a refreshing album that shows his evolution as a music-maker and a producer.

For more information, visit Blockhead's MySpace.

Mochipet

2010-01-18T13:28:00.001-08:00

ELECTRONIC/EXPERIMENTAL/BREAKCORE
Artist: Mochipet
Album: Master P on Atari Transformed Volume 1
Tracks: “Marshall Bass Smacks (Kraddy Remix)” & “Robot Basslab Juice (S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Remix)”
Street Date: January 12, 2010
Label: Daly City Records

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Mochipet, a.k.a David Wang, works among many electronic artists around the world such as Spank Rock, bpitchcontrol, Jahcoozi, Raashan Ahmad of Crown City Rockers, Otto Von Schirach, Daedelus, Sindri , and Tralphaz, in addition to producing his own music.

Wang, also the founder of Daly City Records, released his latest album Master P on Atari Transformed Volume 1 on Tuesday. The album is a collection of hard/breakcore electronic music, similar to his past work.
His label has grown into an international success. Artists such as Xiu Xiu, Ray Barbee, Weasel Walter, Rotator, Scissors for Lefty, Geoff White, Edit, and Mikah9 have made contributions to Daly City Records and essentially allowed it to build a strong foundation in the electronic music genre.

The label is geared toward exploration of electronic music rather than following popular trends. According to Daly City’s website, the label hopes to “create something fresh and new for the mass music audiences, that have been compounded by an onslaught of retro fitting genres.” Master P on Atari Transformed Volume 1 is culmination of that intention.

Lake Lustre

2010-01-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONIC/EXPERIMENTAL/ALTERNATIVE
Artist: Lake Lustre
Album: Mountain Math
Tracks: “Winterless” & “Shoplifter”
Street Date: January 12, 2010
Label: Metal Postcard

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UK-based experimental artist Joe Scerri became involved with underground music at a young age. During the mid 80s to 1990, Scerri DJ-ed at various clubs, parties, and on the radio and began to make his own music via casio keyboard, drum machine, guitar, bass, and some children’s toys. After college, Scerri began to write and release music under the name Lake Lustre in 2000.

After relocating to Switzerland, he finished and released his debut album Indecipherabilia on Abflug Records in 2004. Since then, he has toured in many European countries such as Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, in addition to Argentina and Australia. He released his new 15-track album Mountain Math early last week.

Many musical genres are presented in Mountain Math through an experimental approach. Each track dabbles with elements of electronic music to create a lofty overtone throughout the entire album (reminiscent of Grizzly Bear experimentalism in some parts). To end the album, Scerri includes a nice remix of “Shoplifter” by Aliplays.

For more information, visit his MySpace.

Kriss Van Small

2010-01-08T16:52:00.000-08:00

ECCLECTIC/TECHNO
Artist: Kriss Van Small
Album: Digital Nature EP
Tracks: “Digital Nature” & “Above the Clouds”
Street Date: January 5, 2010
Label: Amplified Digital Records

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Polish DJ Z. Szestakow, a.k.a Kriss van Small has been making music for quite some time. The producer created his first ever compositions on a PC with the Cakewalk program and as hardware and software technologies developed, he began using Fruity Loops, Cubase, and various VSTi plug-ins to make more creative and innovative sounds. After releasing his first EP entitled Memories on Vortek Records, van Small was signed to Amplified Digital and has been working with them ever since.

Kriss van Small has experimented in various forms of electronic music but found his niche in Dutch trance music. Many of his tracks have been played on Elka radio in Poland and his more recent songs such as “Traffic Forever” and “Aharta 2004” are played in a number of Polish night clubs.

Amplified Digital also has a radio show entitled Amplified Radio. To check that out, visit www.amplifiedradio.com.

Disco of Doom - Warpig FOURSIE Award Winner

2009-12-29T11:03:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONIC/TECHNO/METAL
Artist: Disco of Doom
Album: Warpig
Tracks: “Spawn Again” & “Warpig”
Street Date: August 4, 2009
Label: Coco Machete

Congratulations on your FOURSIE, Disco of Doom!
Awarded by: Sunny Dee

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Spiraling downwards is the only way to define the feeling of listening to the fittingly titled electronic artist Disco of Doom. According to Sunny Dee, “It’s like zombies eating the earth mixed with freakin’ the best beat ever.”

Disco of Doom’s first release entitled EP1 was released in 2008 on Passenger Records and immediately reached the ears and hearts of fellow electronic artists AutoKratz, Tronik Youth, Etienne De Crecy, Alex Metric, Acid Jacks, Miles Dyson, and many more. It was after this release that the band had the opportunity to tour across the UK, opening for headline gigs in Amsterdam and Helsinki.

Currently signed to New York City-based label Coco Machete, Disco of Doom released its second album Warpig in early August and continues to destroy dance floors across the globe.

Thunderheist FOURSIE Award Winner

2009-12-22T17:10:00.000-08:00

HIP HOP / RAP / ELECTRONIC
Artist: Thunderheist
Album: Thunderheist
Tracks: “Nothing2Step2” & “Space Cowboy”
Street Date: March 31, 2009
Label: Big Dada

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Congratulations on your FOURSIE, Thunderheist!
Awarded by: Olga Kozedub

Montreal-based Thunderheist, consisting of Isis Salam and Grahm Zilla, released a total of five EPs since October of 2007. Their March release of their first full-length album, Thunderheist, seems to be a culmination of all their past work since the time of release.

The band’s music as well as their music videos have been featured at various popular music outlets such as Jimmy Kimmel, South by South West film festival, YouTube, Hip Hop Connection, DJ Mag, Music Week, Dazed and Confused, and many more. Many remixed Thunderheist tracks are floating about the internet waiting to be listened to.

Though in completely different realms of electronic music, outspoken Iris has a habit of bad-mouthing her peers, non-crediting music samplers Crystal Castles and eccentric pop princess Lady Gaga.

Since March, Thunderheist has released a new EP entitled “LBG (Little Booty Girl).” Keep it coming you two.

To listen to more from the Canadian duo, visit their MySpace!

Hakan Lidbo FOURSIE Award Winner

2009-12-14T16:40:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONIC
Artist: Hakan Lidbo
Album: Yellow Fever EP
Tracks: “Yellow Fever (Death Step Remix)” & “Done Up (Hakan Libdo Remix)
Street Date: May 19, 2009
Label: Tigerbass

Congratulations on your FOURSIE, Hakan!
Awarded By: Matt Laszuk (CEO)

"Who did you select for your foursie, and why." - Sunny
"Hakan Lidbo, because he's bangin." - Matt

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If you’re ever in the mood for jaw-dropping electronic music, turn your attention to Hakan Lidbo, who was recently awarded as one of the 100 best producers of electronic music in the world by Urb Magazine. Lidbo has 10 years of experiences as a pop and dance music producer – most techno/house. He has also managed Swedish record labeles such as MNW Dance and Left < > Right Recordings. His discography consists of more than 150 records that range from avant garde to clean-cut vocal pop/house.

In the past, Hakan has made music for commercials, film, television shows, computer games, and a ballet – just to give you an idea of his musical scope.

In an interview with Montreal Mirror, Lidbo explains how he got into electronic music in the first place:

“Not when I was a kid, but I think some of the reasons I began producing music with electronic equipment were pretty much the same reasons you wanted to be an astronaut - you get to wear really cool clothes and work with high-tech, rocket-type things. When I first saw Kraftwerk and Yello play, I was blown away because I thought that it was amazing to be able to work with these computers and machines with knobs. And you know, for me, to have a job where you feel very cool is pretty important.”

To check our some of his work, visit his MySpace.

Le Castle Vania

2009-12-09T17:36:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONIC/ DANCE
Artist: Le Castle Vania
Album: Nobody Gets Out Alive
Tracks: “Nobody Gets Out Alive,” & “Trouble in Daylight”
Street Date: December 8, 2009
Label: Always Never

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According to Le Castle Vania’s MySpace page, the music sounds like “dirty disco dance beats and a bad ass robot shredding on a keytar annnnnd some other stuff” – which isn’t entirely wrong.

The Atlanta-based indie electro/trance/house artist knows how to drop a good beat. Le Castle Vania, who is currently on a funky tour of the West Coast and then Australia and then the West Coast again, recently released Nobody Gets Out Alive – which happens to be a dirty disco dance single. Reminiscent of a faster, less suggestive and risqué She Wants Revenge, Le Castle Vania (aka Dylan Island) keeps it flashy while tasteful.

Island’s past EPs and remixes have been highly praised and the artist is considered an up-and-coming during the next year. An LP should be released some time in January or February of next year so be sure to look out for that. Stay updated by checking up on Le Castle Vania’s MySpace!

Polymorphic

2009-11-30T15:10:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONIC/ TECHNO/ HOUSE
Artist: Polymorphic
Album: Rock On EP
Tracks: “Rock On,” “Scream”
Street Date: December 1, 2009
Label: Coco Machete

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If you’re a fan of Steve Aoki, the Bloody Beetroots, MSTRKRFT, etc., you’ll most likely enjoy Polymorphic, too. And if you don’t, well that’s too bad!

The Moscow-based artist recently released a new EP, Rock On, featuring three new tracks – “Rock On,” “Scream,” and “Move Faster.” The EP also includes an awesome remix of “Rock On” by Marseille. Most tracks are darkly aggressive and maybe even scary at times – but that’s not surprising. Polymorphic said in a MySpace blog post, “As the days get darker so shall the music, ... there’s only one thing we can really say about the last two tracks… they are scary … ‘Scream’ WILL make you ‘Move Faster.’”

Holy mackerel! NO, but seriously they’re not kidding. This music isn’t for the faint of heart… or hearing. I can clearly imagine myself getting trampled by a crowd of rave-goers and then exploding on the floor (with my glow stick fading out slowly by my side).

But don’t worry about that because you can listen to Polymorphic in the safety of your own home. Check their MySpace out!

Pal Joey

2009-11-23T15:23:00.000-08:00

HOUSE
Artist: Pal Joey
Album: NYC Darlings
Tracks: “Flight 801” & “Party Time”
Street Date: November 11, 2009
Label: Pal Joey

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Apologies for the late Pal Joey blog posting, but it goes to show you that there was so much to information to consider and process about the artist/record label, especially since Pal Joey is considered as a great house legend and pioneer and influencer of all music after the 1980s.

From upbeat, funky electro to low-key trance, the artist demonstrates creative shifts and changes in the nuances of making enjoyable music. Pal Joey has worked with and produced albums for artists such as BQE, Lascivious, Paul Violet, Brio, Beautiful People, Dreamhouse, Soho, and Birdhouse (just to name a few).

Pal Joey’s new album NYC Darlings is a collection of ear-catching tracks – good for winding down and chillaxing. We hope Pal Joey continues to collaborate with other artists and release new stuff soon!

For more information, visit Pal Joey's website.

Conya Compilation

2009-11-17T12:57:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONIC/ HOUSE
Artist: Various Artists
Album: Broaden Your Horizons Pt. 1 & 2
Tracks: Edmund “Electronic Love,” Copy/Paste “Caravan 2”
Street Date: November 17, 2009
Label: Conya Records/ Clubstar

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Alright, so when you think of German electronic/house/trance music, you probably think of really intense beats, rhythms, and bass, with a super deep and creepy German guy singing in a low monotone. Or we’re just exaggerating because an electro-Rammstein comes to mind at first thought.

This is not the case for the first ever Conya Compilation, Broaden Your Horizons Pt. 1 & 2! Originally founded in 2002, the record label wanted to focus on tribal house music however its made a shift to soulish, groovy deep electro-house dance music crafted by some of the best foreign house artists including Jay Tripwire, Manuel Tur, Jay West, Gianluca Pighi, Haldo, Sebastian Davidson, and Brazilian Soul Crew. Part 1 of Broaden Your Horizons, “The Soulful Rub,” mostly consists of laidback soul that you can still definitely dance to. Part 2 of the compilation, “The Deeper Club,” focuses on the deeper house and electronic side of Conya Records. The purchase of either part comes with a DJ mix of the tracks by Henri Kohn who compiled Broaden Your Horizons.

No, this ain’t yo run-of-the-mill compilation, but it’s a diverse collection of super good European/Canadian/Russian electronic music – and no it’s not reminiscent of an electro-Rammstein at all, just in case that thought is still in your head. Although that would probably be interesting too!

Arcane Trickster

2009-11-10T13:04:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONIC
Artist: Arcane Trickster
Album: Eidola
Tracks: "Dope On A Rope,” “Zombie Shuffle (day mix)”
Street Date: November 10, 2009
Label: Tempest Records

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Arcane Trickster is the love baby birthed by producer Damiano Verna of Tempest Records and Christopher Innes. To give a brief and perhaps concise idea of what type of electronic music the two produce, imagine yourself riding a super funky roller coaster elevator-craft through outer-space, traveling through a mangled up montage of old film and audio clips, seeing neon-colored aliens techno dance around you in circles, and spiraling out of control into a nearby nebula:

Pretty awesome, right?!

Arcane Trickster is not your typical electro-pop band that AA-clad youngsters are fawning over these days. The two seem to bring out a darker tone in their music, especially in “Hex,” in which one of the back beat/rhythm sounds very reminiscent of the Prodigy’s “Smack My B***h Up.”

Mogi Grumbles

2009-11-03T14:43:00.000-08:00

ELECTRONIC/ HOUSE/ POP
Artist: Mogi Grumbles
Album:The Black Box Set
Tracks: "M.W.T.F.," "Missed Connections"
Street Date: October 27, 2009
Label: Moodgadget Records

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Correct us if we're mistaken but Mogi Grumbles could possibly be the hippest thing to come out of Michigan since... cars... when they were first invented.

Apparently in the current state of pop culture, it's standard for songs to last a total of 3 or 4, maybe even 5 minutes (if you're like, U2 or something). As a result people are all antsy now when they hear a track lasting 5+ minutes... and we think that's absurd! People used to sit through hours of operas and junk a few centuries ago and now most people can't even sit through a 5 minute track without fidgeting for their iPods.

The California Aggie arts editor put it in good enough terms in the paper yesterday. "Give anyone an album with five or six minute tracks and people will either faint or fall asleep with boredom." This has a high probability of being true, but we're willing to give people the benefit of the doubt... for now.

Now how is this relevant to Mogi Grumbles? Well, every track off the Black Box Set is designated as an EP and lasts about 2-3 times longer than your average MGMT song (no offense beebs!). Supposedly this is Mogi's way of making fun of the electronic genre, which has inherently taken a strong liking to short singles.

The point is, there's absolutely nothing wrong with long tracks! The double digits may look intimidating at first but it could end up being that much better (or at least better than you expected), and this is definitely the case for Mogi Grumbles' Black Box Set.

Check out his remixes and updates on his MySpace!

The Emergency

2009-10-27T13:04:00.000-07:00

ELECTRONIC/ POP
Artist: The Emergency
Album: Dreams That Money Can Buy
Tracks: "Fire in You," "Stars Explode"
Street Date: October 23, 2009
Label: Metal Postcard Records

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EMERGENCY: You need to listen to this album.

The Emergency, based in Melbourne, Australia, has been rubbing shoulders with super awesome electro-pop acts such as Cut Copy, The Presets, Architecture in Helsinki, A.R.E. Weapons, Glass Candy, and Midnight Juggernauts for quite some years now. More importantly, they've released plenty of that gooey, head-bobbing, body-movin', booty-shakin', synth-drenched music that everybody has been mega craving more of lately... but a few years ago in 2001ish! Super hipster status. It's like when Discovery covered and released Jackson 5's "I Want You Back" on their LP like 2 seconds before Michael Jackson passed away - except not that intense at all.

During the past few years, vocalist/keyboardist Milo and Morgan the gadgeteer have been in the studio cranking out some vinyl singles and remixes. Ubes cool! However, word on the street is that cassette tapes are making a comeback (vinyl's apparently too vintage now), so get on that Emergency!
Dreams That Money Can Buy is the duo's second studio album and features Sydney-based artist Catcall and Outrun's bassist Mark O'Keeffe. The new record was completely recorded and produced in their own studio allowing them the DIY creative license that may not have been available elsewhere.

Hit up their MySpace for more details on their various releases and new music!

Amtrak

2009-09-18T13:05:00.000-07:00

ELECTRONIC/ DIRTY
Artist: Amtrak
Album: Dirty Dancing
Track: “Mmm Cake”, “Fit to Hit”
Street date: September 22, 2009
Label: Audio Reconnaissance

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Indianapolis-based label and distributor Audio Reconnaissance is sending out its head recruit, Amtrak, to scout out the electronic scene this fall with Amtrak’s LP, Dirty Dancing. Amtrak is the relatively new project of Morehead, Kentucky DJ, Caleb Cornett (Amtrak began in 2005). Amtrak’s debut EP in 2007, “In Transit”, generated national attention, leading him to gigs with artists such as The Ben Ishmael Revival, The Glitch Clique, and Surreal Estate. One blogger who attended Amtrak’s performances at the Indiana Electronic & Experimental Music Exposition in March wrote, “his late-night vibe was refined and lush.”

Dirty Dancing is smart and trendy, able to provide the perfect setting for anything from posh clubs and lounges to smaller get togethers. Of course, an hour-long ride on Amtrak would be appropriate as well… har har.

Check out “Mmm Cake” and “Fit to Hit." One is delicious and the other can beat up your annoying neighbors.

^ Poser Amtrak

The real Amtrak says: Mmm... cake!

Other notables at Audio Reconnaissance include Dreadnots, Old Ovelus, Twilight Sentinels, Smear, and the Glick Clique.

Slip On Your Shades... Roy Davis Jr. Makes You Feel Cool

2009-08-10T16:26:00.000-07:00

Artist: Roy Davis Jr.
Album: God Life Music
Track: “What Cha Gonna Do? feat. Erin Martin”
Street date: July 20, 2009
Label: nice+smooth ultramedia

He’s probably one of the only DJs out there right now who incorporates soul into electronic music seamlessly. It’s not like he doesn’t have the experience to know what works; this guy started DJing when he was 12, 13 years old, and it was all up from there. In the 1980s, he started his own production company, Phuture. In 1998, he recorded hit single “Gabriel” with Peven Everett, which sold over 250,000 copies. As a producer, he has garnered quite the reputation as well; everyone from Warner Brothers, Sony, to MCA has been knocking on his door for Billboard hits (for Mary J. Blige, Seal, Patti LaBelle, Eric Benet/Faith Evans, etc.). Oh, and he DJs in places you and I only dream about visiting, like Dubai. Jealousy!

On his album God Life Music, Davis channels the ultimate house, cool R&B feel in a soulful, spiritual direction. Not only is his music highly suitable for posh clubs and lounges, it is also cathartic. You know it’s good when you can’t even describe it (absolutely no references to illegal substances here!). Go on, as your close dealer friend would say. Try it out for yourself.

For more RDJ goodness, check out his MySpace page.

Other notables at nice+smooth ultramedia: Kinder Atom, SolaZul

Food for Ears: DJ Food as Stage Four's 1st Electronic Podcast Feature!

2009-08-10T14:31:00.000-07:00

Electronic
Artist: DJ Food
Album: One Man’s Weird is Another Man’s World
Track: “The Illectrik Hoax ft. Natural Self”
Street date: July 7, 2009
Label: Ninja Tune

To all our electronic music aficionados and anyone in search of something truly original, have we got something for you to snack on: DJ Food! The DJ Food project was created close to 20 years ago and has included a number of DJs and producers over the years. DJ Food hasn’t put out new music for 8 years. Currently, DJ Food is comprised of sole performer Strictly Kev.

One Man’s Weird is Another Man’s World is appropriately titled and reflects just how wide of a spectrum the album covers: the tracks range from an ethereal, outer space feel with a textbook recording on energy waves to tracks that are clearly influenced by African tribal music—very creative, experimental production. “The Illectrik Hoax ft. Natural Self” is driven by rhythms and beats; it also features spoken word dialogue that are layered over the tracks, which is unexpected but pleasant. Contributing artists on the album include Ken Nordine, Nathaniel Pearn (aka Natural Self, one half of The Broken Keys), Bundy K Brown, The Dragons and Dr. Rubberfunk.

DJ Food is signed under Ninja Tune and distributed by IRIS Distribution. Check out his MySpace!

Other notables at Ninja Tune: Daedelus, King Cannibal, Mr. Scruff

The Beginning Of...

2009-07-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

Memo from the Surgeon General

Prescription of Stage Four powered by BlinkerActive to be administered in weekly doses to listeners with the following symptoms:

1. Unexplained urges to escape the monotony of mainstream music
2. Desire to impress all those surrounding listeners with his or her impeccable taste and exclusive access to the best alt/rock or electronica
3. Desire to make fun of people while they make fools of themselves and to win truly random/ridiculous prizes with each podcast release
4. Uncontrollable tendency to indulge in freshest sounds around.

Side effects include an overall sense of euphoria and urgency, sex appeal, and a greater appreciation for addiction to the best new music out there, hands down. Welcome to the Insanity! Greetings to all of our listeners! Pat yourself on the back—you’re making history. This is Stage Four’s very first podcast, powered by Iris! Stage Four will be regularly combing through millions of tracks (that’s an exaggeration) that come our way (fate) for the best alt/rock and electronica—all 100% certified indie, delivered straight to your headphones. Each podcast will highlight an artist yours truly believes to be strongly buzz-worthy. And who knows? Maybe you too will discover that this—steady eye contact here, don’t break away—is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Stage Four - Electronic

Video Games - Live!

DJ Shadow

Do me right (don't worry, it's not that dirty)

beyond what you see lurks so much more

call on me, you got my number

SF Life: Pride Weekend

you love my shake

my heart is not in control

aim

dubLoner & Isaac Haile Selassie

Ari Rhodes ft. Jinting

Johnny Dynell

Bonobo

Bonobo

Can We Talk About This?

Tad Wiley

Jonas Reinhardt

Stylo vs. Eddy GRANT!?

Daedelus

Gorillaz New Video

Harrison Schaaf

Grasscut

Fukkk Off / SCNDL

Chinese New Year

PJ Pooterhoots

Outputmessage

Monk Fly

Blockhead

Mochipet

Lake Lustre

Kriss Van Small

Disco of Doom - Warpig *FOURSIE Award Winner*

Thunderheist *FOURSIE Award Winner*

Hakan Lidbo *FOURSIE Award Winner*

Le Castle Vania

Polymorphic

Pal Joey

Conya Compilation

Arcane Trickster

Mogi Grumbles

The Emergency

Amtrak

Slip On Your Shades... Roy Davis Jr. Makes You Feel Cool

Food for Ears: DJ Food as Stage Four's 1st Electronic Podcast Feature!

The Beginning Of...

Disco of Doom - Warpig FOURSIE Award Winner

Thunderheist FOURSIE Award Winner

Hakan Lidbo FOURSIE Award Winner